Author's Note: Many apologies for the wait. Life decided to dump a bunch of extraneous tasks to be taken care of. Finals are coming up, and that may or may not affect updates. I hope not. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 25

Balthier was awake before Ashe was and he took the time to study her face. The corners of her mouth were curved slightly upward and she had slept through the entire night with ease. He recalled near the beginning of their journey that she had been under far more duress, and her eyes had been lackluster with the many problems weighing on her mind. Last night their eyes had been as dims as hers, but between Marskot's appearance and the tower she had loosened her rigidity into something far more soft and yielding.

He ran his fingers through the strands of her hair, and then moved it back to expose her neck. Her hands were calloused but her neck was still so soft, and he could not resist leaning over and placing chaste kisses on it.

"Mmm...Balthier," she moaned and smiled at the intimate touch.

He stopped and rested his head in the crook of her neck. Ashe brought a hand up to stroke his cheek, and they lay like that for some time before Balthier stirred again. He climbed over her to reach the floor and find some clothes to put on.

Walking through the ship without hearing the children chattering or the engines humming was startlingly eerie. His first destination was to the cockpit to determine the time. Well done, Vaan. You managed to land without taking the wings off, Balthier thought when he walked in to see no one there. Even Fran had retired. It was an open hangar so he could look out and see the magnificent expanse of stars dotting the sky. Before dawn, I would presume. I think I will take advantage of the open washroom.

"Vaan flew the Strahl well for his first time," Fran said and Balthier smirked at her, not surprised to see her there.

"Everything appears to be in order, not that I would doubt you, Fran," Balthier said as he dutifully checked system functions on the screen. I have to give the boy credit. He's a fast learner. "Have you fully recovered from the Mist?"

"I am doing well, but I feel a gathering within the Mist. The energy that dissipated from the Sun-Cryst before it expired has accumulated afar. I feel that this war is coming to a head. We should be ready to move at a moment's notice."

Balthier merely nodded before he turned to head back down the hall to the washroom. Well, old man, I suppose we shall get to experience at least one last toy you left in your legacy. What were you doing for Vayne all this time? He let his thoughts trail when he felt them start to fumble over each other over the longstanding dire situation. Instead he tore off his clothes and threw them to the floor, twisting his face in disgust at the sticky cold sweat on his body. I should have bathed last night, he mused as he vigorously scrubbed the grim from his hair under the refreshingly warm water. There had been nothing in the way of water in the tower and so they had all walked out covered in all manner of dirt and grime. He felt the five day growth on his face and scowled as he rubbed a hand over it. The resemblance is uncanny once I get the hint of a beard. Well, that cannot do.

As he shaved the scruff from his face a knock came on the door. "Balthier, we'll need to head to Reddas' Manse and consider our next move," Ashe said. "Will you be out in a few minutes?"

"Give me a couple of minutes," Balthier replied, tapping his razor against the sink. "You're leaving covered in all that dust. Surely you would want to freshen up. We can't have our lovely Princess looking like a tramp off the streets?" He was so grateful he had locked the door, for she jiggled it furiously.

"You might want to watch your back once you're out of your safe haven, Balthier," Ashe said before he heard her boots fading off into the distance.

"Al-Cid?" Vaan said.

What is that foppish twit doing here? Balthier thought and a scowl deepened on his face once he caught sight of the frilly Prince, sitting in one of Reddas' chairs as if he owned the place. At once Al-Cid's eyes fastened on the Princess, and even as grimy as she appeared at that moment, Balthier could see the twinkle in his eyes.

"We let ourselves inside. The situation is one demanding some haste, you understand," Al-Cid said suavely even as he stood from the chair to face them. His servant girl continued to stand closely beside him.

"How did you know where we were?" Vaan asked and Balthier wanted to roll his eyes at the question. It may have been formerly Reddas' Manse, but not all peoples within his district—especially this district—would keep their tongues between their teeth with a handful of coins. How can Vaan learn the way of piloting an airship so quickly, yet he fails to grasp the concept digging through sources to information? Nothing stays hidden for long, Balthier mused.

Still, Al-Cid indulged him—to an extent. "My little birds, they tell me many, many things. My Lady, the war begins now."

"Then you were unsuccessful in stopping the Rozarrian fleet?" Ashe asked, a shadow fell across her face. Larsa had stated what seemed like years ago that if there was a war the battlefield would be Dalmasca.

"I used a variety of methods. All went according to plan until it came time to request withdrawal of our most devoted generals," Al-Cid began, gesturing with his hands and pacing the room as he did so. "In their enthusiasm for war, our great military leaders went behind my back…straight to Marquis Ondore's Resistance."

"The Resistance?"

"During training, a division of the Resistance ignored their orders and disappeared. They were next found exchanging broadsides with the Imperials over old Nabradia."

Balthier raised his eyebrows at this, but Basch spoke for them all: "Why would they go there? They were asking to be found!"

"You misunderstand. Those ships most surely belonged to a Rozarrian division. They may have joined Ondore's Resistance forces as patriots, or even mercenaries…but in reality they are regulars of the Rozarrian Army under direct command of our war-pavilion. This fifth column has invaded Imperial airspace and provoked a response. Unable to abandon them, his Excellency the Marquis was obliged to give his main fleet the order to attack. And the battleground…is Dalmasca."

"Sounds like there is strife within the Rozarrian ranks. Perhaps you should keep tighter discipline of your soldiers." Balthier exercised great restrain to keep those thoughts from passing between his lips and he intended to once again let Ashe know his thoughts on this greasy character. He ground his teeth and Fran shot him a warning look that he should indeed keep discipline with himself before he harangued someone else on the matter. Hypocritical that. Instead Balthier said, "Should this fight drag on, Rozarria will enter the fray, the defense of Dalmasca as their excuse…and we will have a war between empires."

"Correct," Al-Cid said, which caused Balthier to wonder if the man knew how hated he was. "They will bide their time—wait until the Empire has spent itself against the Marquis. But Vayne—he will crush them and the Marquis both between his hands."

Basch frowned at this dramatization and replied, "Vayne holds the Dusk Shard no longer. His advantage is lost."

"Vayne has advantages enough. He stands in high ground, and my birds tell me he has awoken something quite large. Bahamut, Lord of the Sky. There was a stirring in the Mist near Ridorana, I'm told. Bahamut awoke soon after this."

"It was the Mist that came before the Cryst was undone. It breathed life into this Bahamut. If Reddas had not stopped it when he did, how much more Mist might it have drunk? All went according to Doctor Cid's designs," Fran said.

Balthier had abruptly remembered their conversation this morning and he was scowling heavily once more, but the object of his frustrations had turned to his deceased father. "Yes, the man's last great accomplishment, I fear. And so it falls to me to put an end to the thing."

He saw Ashe give him a sympathetic look but she dared not move to comfort him. "Vayne commands Bahamut himself?" Ashe asked instead, finally tearing her eyes away from Balthier.

"He comes to Rabanastre," Al-Cid said.

"Then I will defend Dalmasca and stop this Bahamut. This is my charge—"

Vaan cut her off, "That's our charge, actually."

"It's our home. It belongs to us all," Penelo said.

So that is it then. We are to go to war. My running got me nowhere. Balthier smirked at how Fate had dragged him back for what it originally intended. His amusement did not last for long when he saw Al-Cid grab Ashe's hand.

"—When this unpleasantness is done, you must come to Rozarria. I will take you to the Ambervale of Clan Margrace. Such things I will show you! Until then, I will be waiting." He kissed it gently and let it fall. Just as he reached the door to the hall, Ashe called out to him.

"Al-Cid." He turned as though he expected her to leap into his arms, but she merely said, "When would you expect the battle to be joined?"

"As Vayne and the Marquis move their pieces into place? Tomorrow morning or early afternoon, I would safely guess."

"Very well. Everyone, you have the day to rest. Balthier, be sure that the Strahl is ready. We depart at midnight," the Princess said and the pirate could almost feel the tension diffuse. All of them had been expecting to run off to the fight in the next moment but Ashe had allowed some respite.

Al-Cid hesitated to leave when he heard her order, and Balthier was sure he really had thought they would all run gallantly off to engage Vayne in battle. The bloody idiot can think that all he likes. He has not suffered the events and trials we have in the last few months.

"C'mon, Penelo, let's go to the beach," Vaan said and pulled her out the door before she could protest. Once they were gone the Manse fell eerily quiet.

They stood there for a moment, apparently waiting for the others to start speaking when finally Ashe said, "I intend to cleanse and retire. I am still weary from the events from the night before." Her eyes lingered the slightest moment on Balthier, but then she was gone.

"I should attend to the Strahl and make sure Nono has everything maintained. There should be little to do. He has been keeping a closer eye on it the last few days. Fran, would you shop to fill the ship's pantry? If not I will do it later," Balthier said and she gave him a pointed look.

"No, I will shop for the groceries."

"Before you leave, may I have your weapons? I will find upgrades for all of them," Basch said. Balthier gladly unstrapped the sword from his back and handed it to him. "Any preferences on weapons, Balthier?"

"Simply another long sword, if you would. I'd give you my blasted gun, but I doubt they can be much more powerful handheld," Balthier said with a wry smile before he turned on his heel and walked out the door.

He walked through the market, giving the merchant's wares a casual glance. Balthier slowed when he caught sight of the Jeweler and he allowed himself to smirk as he looked over the glittering baubles and necklaces. I wonder if Ashe would care to add to her jewelry collection. She might like this. It was rather simple in its design, made more from beads than gold or silver, but its centerpiece was a shimmering rock composed of many colors. When he looked at the price tag, he snorted. Five hundred gils for that? It would be worth far more to lift it, Balthier thought and he allowed his eyes to stray to the owner whom he was sure was giving him an evil look. Perhaps another time…

I wonder if Sari and Ashe's tastes in jewelry coincide, Balthier mused as he thought back to the necklace he had given Sari for her birthday. It had really been rather cheap—if Sari had seen the receipt she might have strangled him with her present—but she had absolutely adored the necklace. It had been a stylish pattern of silver and blue and there had hardly been a time after her sixteenth birthday he hadn't seen her without it He imagined with the way she tanned it had left a pattern in her dark skin much like when she wore watches on her bony wrists.

Would she still be working on the Nalbina dungeons? I cannot imagine those are quite finished with yet, Balthier mused as he walked through the halls of the aerodrome to where the Strahlrested. As he approached he could already see Nono bobbing about on the ground looking it up and down to check for repairs.

"How is she looking, Nono?"

"Master Balthier, I have only been able to examine her body and it is perfect. There are no weaknesses or flaws that I could find, although I could check again, kupo."

"Do that, would you? I will check inside. Her Majesty wants to set sail at midnight to head into battle. I recommend you stay behind for that."

For the first time since Balthier had hired him a mechanic for theStrahl he saw the moogle's eyes widen in fear and he shuddered. "Indeed, kupo. I will not be leaving with you tonight," he said and then he bobbed off to check the body again.

Balthier climbed back into the Strahl grateful for its emptiness so that he could easily traverse and check it without danger of walking in on young Penelo changing, or a Vaan desperate to fly, or even an irate Princess that was stickling about their schedule. For once, everything seemed so relaxed. The pirate spent an hour simply walking through the halls, going into each room, and skimming the surface with his hands and eyes to make sure all was in order. He dug out his tools to open various plates and make sure all the wires were intact and in orderly fashion. When Nono was done rechecking the hull they teamed up to tackle the engine room.

Ashe would be pleased to see this, Balthier thought, somewhat amused and disgruntled at the appearance he presented. As greasy as the engine room was, he had stripped off his vest and white shirt to look like nothing more than a common grease monkey in a garage.

"Kupo, I have checked the engine room every day. I only saw a couple of pipes that were worn. The rest has checked out and so far it still looks pristine, kupo," Nono said as he delicately peered into holes to better see the insides of the engine without getting his paws too greasy. Still, they continued looking through the engine for another hour before Balthier decided that indeed it was in pristine shape. I suppose that is what can happen when the ship is never used, Balthier thought. The thought depressed him as he imagined the Strahl much like an excitable animal being caged.

"Nono, you may go. If we have not found anything, I'm not sure another search will yield anymore," Balthier said with as he attempted to scrub the grease from his arms. He scowled at the now grimy black towel and threw it in a wastebasket with no less than a dozen other similar towels he had used that day.

"Good luck on your mission, Master Balthier," the moogle said with a tiny wave of his paw before he hopped down the steps like a tiny child.

The pirate headed back to the Manse to take full advantage of the far nicer showering opportunity available for him. Ashe has bathed here this morning, I cannot imagine he'll mind another body partaking of the house's use. Balthier did not even bother knocking when he came to Ashe's room. "Gone, hmm? I'm sure she won't mind if I use her washroom," Balthier said, unzipping the vest and delicately taking off the shirt so that he did not smudge it more than it already was—he had left it unbuttoned and hanging out but grease spots had still managed to spring up on it.

"Balthier, what in the Gods' names are you doing in my washroom?" Her voice rang through the bathroom as he was scrubbing the grease off of his arms.

"I believe I am cleaning. It is impolite to barge in on somebody while they are bathing," Balthier admonished as he clicked his tongue in mock dismay. She had pulled back the curtains to glare at him, and he was a little disappointed his handsome physique could no longer distract her.

"You could not have found your own washroom? You're getting grease all over the basin!" She pointed down at his feet and continued to give him an evil look even as he could see her lips twitch in amusement.

He followed her finger and saw that he had smeared the sides from the run-off. "That is hardly the entire basin. Besides, would you much prefer the grease in the basin or on you?"

Color flared into her cheeks and she gave him a gentle slap on his well-toned arm, but the annoyance on her face was starting to fade. "Be quick! I would expect you to be more considerate of wasting resources."

"Only when I am the one paying its expense, Princess," Balthier replied. He yelped when she slapped his rear end and shouted back to her. "That was entirely uncalled for, My Lady!"

"Balthier, your leather pants and vest look great on you, but I cannot complain about your more casual look," Ashe commented when he stepped into the room, adjusting the fit of long-sleeved red shirt. He went to stand by her at the window, and then he smirked when he saw that she was watching Vaan and Penelo splash each other.

"It was something to wear," he mumbled, recalling that he had used tongs to be sure the grease did not find its way onto the soft fabric.

"Is the Strahl ready then?"

"Nono and I checked her from top to bottom, and spent roughly an hour and a half examining the engine room. We have both agreed that she is as ready as she will ever be. Tonight the flying should be flawless," Balthier answered, and she gave him a look that unsettled him. That gleam in her eye almost made him think she was going to sabotage the ship, when he realized that it might very well be the warning before the strike. I might very well die tonight if the Strahl breaks a fuse.

"Why would you even bother to put a shirt on?" She suddenly asked as she ran a finger down his front.

"The same reason you yourself deigned to be clothed," he replied, snaking an arm around her waist to pull her a little closer.

Ashe raised her eyebrows. "I have walked around outside since my wash. However, you might very well stay in here all day."

He grabbed her hand and slowly placed kisses on each digit, which caused her to close her eyes in rapture. "Perhaps…" His lips gently made his way to her wrist, and then he allowed his tongue to flit across her skin. The pirate leaned in closer just inches from her lips, breathing lightly before he gently kissed here. It was soft and tender as he was wont to do, and he was pleased to see her lean toward him when he broke away, and then he whispered into her ear, "When I have foraged for some nourishment."

That caused her to sigh in exasperation and she pushed him away. He chuckled as he backed away before finally turning for the door. Balthier did not look back, but he could imagine she wore a miffed expression with her hands resting testily on her hips.